“We know great changes in our community and our church have occurred since its founding in 1807. The trees are gone from the churchyard, and even the soil has been moved and the contour of the lot itself changed. One thing has remained constant through the years: that solid core of devoted Christians who have willingly worked for the glory of God and the good of humankind in this place. The task is ours now. Let’s not fail.”
Irby H. Brown, Historian (1982)
August 1, 1807 • Two acres of land, fronting Church Road, were deeded to the Methodist Society by John J. Kleinhoff & Sarah, his wife, for the sum of one dollar. The only structure was a little log cabin.
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January 2, 1813 • Another acre of land was transferred to “Trustees of Providence Church” by Sarah Kleinhoff for the sum of one dollar. A building had been erected before this time.
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Late 1860s • Our sanctuary was repaired and remodeled. The building had been used by transient soldiers seeking shelter during the War Between the States.
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July 22, 1883 • The oldest burial record in our cemetery – Walter A. Orrill.
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1894–96 • A new and larger sanctuary (33ft. wide and 60 ft. long) was erected under the leadership of the pastor, The Rev. Leroy J. Phaup, using much of the framing material from the first church. Providence was 100 strong at that time. The Richmond Christian Advocate stated that “The complete new church, as it stands today (1896) with its Gothic windows, stained glass, handsome pews, carpets, new organ, new library case and books, beautiful chandeliers, could not be duplicated for less than $1,800.” These pews and some of these furnishings are in our present chapel.
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January 25, 1901 • For the sum of fifteen dollars, additional land was deeded by Mattie V. Neister and Willis Neister, her husband. The deed describes this land as “…triangle piece between Providence M. E. Church cemetery and the Providence Road…”
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1920’s – Sanctuary was segregated: Ladies on the left and men on the right.
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1932 – The first primary class was formed. Eighteen year old Lula Maul was the teacher and she taught until her death in 2006
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1936–38 • More space was needed. With the help and leadership of the pastor, the Rev. T. G. Laughon, a basement was installed beneath the sanctuary, providing six classrooms, a social hall, kitchen, rest rooms, and furnace room. The cost was approximately $1,800.
Our first known Vacation Bible School was held in June, 1938. The Commencement exercises were held on the last day with a picnic held at Forest Hill Park.
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April 30, 1938 • The first class, Men’s Bible Class, taught by Mark Bookman, met in the new basement.
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1940 – The Fellowship Class was formed, the first class of men and women, and was taught by Irby Brown. They merged with the Friendship Class in 2010.
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1947–48 • A two-story brick addition was built providing seven classrooms – approximate cost was $8,000. It was impossible to get lumber at that time so brick was used. The sanctuary was again remodeled and redecorated.
Also in 1947, the Friendship class was organized with Wilbur Wood as the teacher.
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1950 • A parsonage was built and Providence became a station church (all 300 of us) with The Rev. C Roy Everett Jr. becoming our first pastor.
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1951–52 • Two parcels of land were added modifying the grounds extensively and giving ample space for parking. We were deeded land in 1951 from the Maul estate and land from the Mott estate in 1952.
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June 14, 1953 • Dedication of our debt-free parsonage.
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1954 – The first Boy Scouting, Troop 862, received its charter on Sunday, January 10. The Scoutmaster was Clif Brown.
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1955 – The Friendship Class held its first Annual Brunswick Stew. The first Girl Scouting Brownie Troop 60 was invested April 30 under the leadership of Miss Tommie Milam (Later Tommie Wood)
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January 27, 1957 • Ground was broken for our current sanctuary to seat 475. This was attached to the old building.
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March 15, 1958 • First service was held in our new sanctuary – Providence was 550 persons.
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1959 – A Sunday School class for our special Providence members and neighbors was started by Mary Woodcock and Nellie Dowd. It disbanded in 2004 when the last member, Pete Kidd, moved.
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August 31, 1964 • The debt on the sanctuary was paid in full.
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April 10, 1966 • Ground was broken for our current Educational building.
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May 1, 1966 • We reluctantly began dismantling our frame building.
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August 20, 1967• Our Educational Building was consecrated.
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1973 – The Providence Retired Club held its first meeting October 1 under the name of XYZ Club with 16 charter members. They were later knows as the PRC’s.
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1975 – Our first Chrismons were made under the leadership of Liz Jones.
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June 6, 1982 • We burned the note for our Educational Building – we were 1,150 strong!
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September 28, 1982 • Our Charge Conference voted to purchase the adjoining Thomas property (15 1/2 acres). The new property was designated Oak Laughon as a lasting memorial to The Rev. T.G. Laughon, who lived with his family on this property while serving as pastor of Providence between 1934–38.
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1988 – The United Methodist Men but the Picnic Shelter (Pavilion).
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1989 – The first Wednesday Night Dinner was started by Linda Kish, Rosemary Mumaw, and Tony Franklin. They began in the fall and had a standing reservation list of 160.
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1990 – Our first DISCIPLE classes were held by Dee Nichols and Virgil Mumaw.
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1991 • We began our Preschool/Mother’s Morning Out program. This program was not the first time Providence provided educational facilities. Our forefathers used our building for schooling in the 1800s and in 1968 we helped our community by renting our facilities to Chesterfield County to alleviate the overcrowded conditions at A.M. Davis Elementary School.
The Department of Historic Resources (Commonwealth of Virginia) approved the placement of a historical marker on the church property. The marker cost $1,200 and was a gift from Mr. and Mrs. Arthur L. Jordan.
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1992 • The two-story white frame house, originally referred to as the Laughon building, was renamed the G. Winston Overstreet Scout Building.
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1995 – Bethlehem City, a drive-through pageant honoring the birthplace of Christ was started. It stopped after 10 years because of bad weather and aging scenery.
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September 28, 1997 • The note on Oak Laughon was retired.
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1997 • We converted a classroom into a parlor and remodeled our chapel and library. Parlor furnishings were paid for from memorial gifts in memory of Evelyn Wood. The chapel was named “Memorial Chapel” because remodeling costs were paid from our Memorial Fund.
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1998- Our handbells were dedicated Dec. 13. They were given in memory of Alan Gillie by his family.
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2002 – November 24, twenty stained glass windows in the sanctuary depicting the life of Christ were dedicated. Additional windows were later added throughout the church.
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2003 – Renovations were needed and The Building on Our Faith Campaign, headed by Tony Fleshman, was held in the Fall during which $338,360 was pledged over a three -year period.
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2005- 2006 Renovations were started in September 2005 under the leadership of Galen Rein. The renovations included new HVAC, removal of asbestos on all floors of the Education Building, a commercial elevator and making all restrooms handicapped accessible . All improvements were completed by May 2006 at a cost of $898,182.
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2007 – Our Bicentennial Year. Our theme was “Celebrating Our Past, Present and Future” and we did just that! Details can be found in our Bicentennial Directory. Sean Collins designed our logo. A Time Capsule was put in our safe and is not to be opened until 2057!
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2008 – Our Upward Soccer program was started under the leadership of Joe Gillette.
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2018 – Needlepoint Kneelers for Memorial Chapel were dedicated in March.
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2020- The G. Winston Overstreet Scout Building was demolished due to unhealthy and structural conditions. The scouts were moved to our Education Building.
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2022-Asbury Memorial UMC merged with us July 1. We not only received about 60 members but also their minister, Rev. Jason Elmore, as our Associate Pastor. The blending of members and furnishings of the two churches could not have gone any smoother.
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2024- Iglesia de Dios Emanuel began worshiping in our Memorial Chapel at 1 pm on Sundays and using our other facilities when needed.
Our parsonage was completely renovated under the leadership of Mike Collins for Rev. Bryan McClain and his family. It had been 24 years since a minister had resided in our parsonage.
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Progress is our legacy and with God’s help, we will approach the future with courage, trusting in the One who has brought us this far!
(LOOKING TO THE FUTURE) 2057 – Open the Bicentennial Time Capsule that is in our safe.
“The accomplishments of the past are not nearly so great as the challenges of the future.”
Reverend C. Roy Everett, Jr. – 1957